Study Finds That Diet Coke Is No Better Than Full Fat For Weight Loss

Not the diet coke.. don't take the diet coke.

The January detox has started in earnest and while we're chuffed with ourselves for turning down the leftover roses in the office, we are still clinging to our diet drinks to get us through.

However, according to new research, we may as well be drinking the real deal, as it has been found that diet drinks actually "make no difference to weight loss".

A lot of the misconceptions about these sugar-free beverages stem from the fact that previous studies have been heavily influenced by the soft drinks companies themselves - skewing the results.

But a review of research has concluded that there is no evidence to suggest the sugar-free diet drinks are any healthier than their full fat counterparts. In fact, the sweeteners in drinks like Diet Coke are actually stimulating our sweet taste buds which could lead to greater calorie consumption in the long run.

Senior investigator Professor Christopher Millett, from Imperial College London’s School of Public Health, said: ‘A common perception, which may be influenced by industry marketing, is that because ‘diet’ drinks have no sugar, they must be healthier and aid weight loss when used as a substitute for full sugar versions. However, we found no solid evidence to support this.”

Co-author Dr Maria Carolina Borges, from the Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil, said: ‘The lack of solid evidence on the health effects of ASBs and the potential influence of bias from industry funded studies should be taken seriously when discussing whether ASBs are adequate alternatives to SSBs (sugar-sweetened beverages).”

Leading British nutritionist Professor Susan Jebb, from Oxford University, said "For people seeking to manage their weight, tap water is without question the best drink to choose."